Submissions: 2026 publication program

We are delighted to announce that 5 Islands Press is now open for submissions from poets interested in being part of our 2026 publication program.  We will be open for submissions from now until 11:59pm on 14 June 2025 (AEST). 

We’re looking for well-crafted poems that have something insightful to say, and that say it in a way that will move the hearts and minds of intelligent and attentive readers.  Please send us a sample of the ten pages from your manuscript that you are happiest with, along with a short note (not more than 500 words) telling us about yourself. (The word count limit does not include a list of any awards that you have received and your publication history, which you should add at the end of the bionote, in the same document).  We will use this submission to compile a shortlist of poets, who will be invited to provide a full manuscript for consideration for publication in our 2026 program.  

Submissions should be made using the from available on the Home page of our website. We will acknowledge receipt of your submission by email as soon as we have downloaded and recorded your sample of poems and bio; we will make every effort to do this within 72 hours.  We will inform submitters whether or not they have made the shortlist as soon as possible, but cannot give you a date for this until after submissions are closed and we know how many submissions we have to review.